The RetroBlogs Keep On Marching Along...

Modesty Blase Has Competed Her Assignment!

The never-reprinted 1994 graphic novel based on Peter O'Donnell's first Modesty Blaise book, which provided about as much a basis for the 1966 movie as Ian Fleming's Casino Royale did for the 1967 flick based on that novel began running last week!!

If you've missed any of the action (written by O'Donnell himself and illustrated by Dan Spiegle and Dick Giordano), here's the links at

Heroines & Crime and Punishment!
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Conclusion

We also finished re-presenting the tale of a superhero who travels from comic books to the real world in a short-lived and long-forgotten (almost 40 years ago) TV series finally gets the attention it deserves at 

Hero Histories & Secret Sanctum of Captain Video!
Part 1, Part 1.5, Part 2, Conclusion

With the movie Fantastic Four: First Flight finally incorporating the characters into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we're presenting this long-OOP (almost a half-century) premiere prose novel (as compared to graphic novel) featuring both the protagonists and one of the antagonists of the flick by long-time comics scribe Marv Wolfman right here at

Atomic Kommie Comics & Seduction of the Innocent!

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9

Continue the Fantastic Saga on Monday, at Seduction of the Innocent!

And There's More to Come Next Week!

The RetroBlog Summer Blogathons are HERE...

Things are hitting fever pitch...

...as Modesty Blaise and Willie Garvin rip apart Gabriel's criminal organization from within at Crime and Punishment and Heroines! in a tale that winds up this week!

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Meanwhile, the Fantastic Four began their prose novel career in a never-reprinted story from 1979 with a battle involving both science and magic against Doctor Doom both on this blog and Seduction of the Innocent!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

And the tale of a superhero who travels from comic books to the real world in a short-lived and long-forgotten (almost 40 years ago) TV series finally gets the attention it deserves at Hero Histories and Secret Sanctum of Captain Video!

Part 1

Part 1.5

Will Captain Justice rescue the helpless reporter and hardboiled-gumshoe?

How, without super-powers, will he stop a well-armed crimelord?

And what does Stan (the Man) Lee have to do with any of this?

Tune In This Week!

Same Blog Time! Same Blog Channel!

RetroBlogs...Where You Can Read and Watch Kool Stuff Created Before You (and Sometimes, Your Parents) Were Born!

The RetroBlogs 2025 Summer Blogathons are Coming...

Starting July 1st, we're running several blogathons...

With Fantastic Four: First Flight finally incorporating the characters into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we're presenting this long-OOP (almost a half-century) premiere prose novel (as compared to graphic novel) about them right here at

Atomic Kommie Comics

The legendary Man of Bronze takes on the Nazis at the 1936 Olympics as they put up an athlete who was trained from birth using the same techniques that Dr Clark Savage Sr used for Doc in this never-reprinted, almost 40 year-old extra-long comic!

Guest appearances by historical figures including Jesse Owens and Adolf (You Know Who)!

See the Nazi-Punching action at

Hero Histories and Medical Comics and Stories

Almost 40 years ago, there was a "high-concept" series about a tired, disillusioned comic book creator whose characters (a wholesome, upright superhero and hardboiled private detective) entered the real world!

With only seven episodes produced (four unaired), it's been largely-forgotten.

But there was a never-reprinted 2-issue adaptation of the pilot episode!

You'll see that at

Secret Sanctum of Captain Video

Here's a never-reprinted 1994 graphic novel based on Peter O'Donnell's first Modesty Blaise book, which provided about as much a basis for the 1966 movie as Ian Fleming's Casino Royale did for the 1967 flick based on that novel!

See what O'Donnell really intended at

Heroines!

And, of course, another entry in our "Beach Read" book-length gothic romance comic story series at

True Love Comics Tales

Stay cool...and kool...with

RetroBlogs

this Summer!

Nazi Smashers are Joining the Russkie Smashers at Hero Histories!

Just as in the Dark Days of World War II...

...2025 is the Time to Take a Stand Against Nazis/Pseudo-Nazis!

Beginning Monday, our weekly "brother" RetroBlog, Hero Histories will be alternating the ongoing Russkie Smasher feature with Nazi Smashers!
Behold as a literal army of heroes joins the battle against the enemies of America, past and present!
Coming this Monday:
Blackhawk vs Hitler's Daughter
...which combines both Nazis and Russkies!
Wonder how?
Be HERE Monday to find out!

It's the Final Week of the CountDown to Halloween 2024 Blogathon...

...and If You Haven't yet Joined In...

Art by the late, great, Dave Stevens!

There's Still Time to Get In On on the Fiendish Fun!!!

(In Alphabetical Order)

Hero Histories

Heroines!

Horror Comics of the 1950s

Medical Comics & Stories

True Love Comics Tales

Western Comics Adventures

RetroBlogs Participating in the CountDown to Halloween 2024 Blogathon ...

...Begin Posting This Week!

(In Alphabetical Order)

Commie-Crushing Kaiju in

Hero Histories

(Which, because it posts on Mondays, begins on October 7th!)

Supernatural Superwomen and/or Villainesses in

Heroines!

Seldom-Seen Sinister Stories from Long-Lost Publisher Comic Media in

Horror Comics of the 1950s

Hospital Horrors in

Medical Comics & Stories

Horrifying HeartBreak (Literally) at

True Love Comics Tales

Specters Amongst the SageBrush in

Western Comics Adventures

check out the rest of the Putrid participants of Countdown to Halloween 2024
here!

Halloween Will be a Month-Long Party at RetroBlogs Participating in CountDown to Halloween 2024!

Art by the late, great, Dave Stevens!

RetroBlogs Participating in CountDown to Halloween 2024 Will Post New Halloween/Horror Material Weekly During October!!

Don't Miss Out on the Fiendish Fun!!!

(In Alphabetical Order)

Hero Histories

Heroines!

Horror Comics of the 1950s

Medical Comics & Stories

True Love Comics Tales

Western Comics Adventures

Wow!

We're Not Gonna Get Much Sleep in October, Are We?

Bob Newhart (1929-2024)

Everybody knows the late, great, Bob Newhart's...

...two long-running TV series, The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart.

But, how many remember his final series, Bob...which was set in the world of comic books and greeting cards?

(Silly side note, considering the progression of series titles from The Bob Newhart Show to Newhart to Bob, if he had done another series what was it going to be called..."The"?)

In the 1992-94 series Newhart played Bob McKay, a Silver Age creative now doing greeting cards, who created, wrote, and illustrated Mad-Dog, a super-hero with the abilities of...you guessed it...a dog!

(He also, somehow, retained the copyright to the character, a rarity for creatives before the 1990s!)

When a new publisher wants to revive the character, Bob agrees, provided he does the book.

But, that's not what the publisher has in mind...

Note: we don't call the 1990s "The Dark Age" for nothing!

As you can see, Marvel Comics published a never-reprinted six-issue tie-in comic in "flip-book" format, with one half being Bob McKay's Silver Age version, and the other half being Ace Comics' Dark Age version.
In tribute to this unjustly-forgotten project, which featured an episode guest-starring noted comics creatives Jack Kirby, Bob Kane, Sergio Aragones, Jim Lee, and Mark Silvestri; we're interrupting our "Time-Lost" Summer Blogathon to do the following...

Presenting the pilot episode on

Secret Sanctum of Captain Video

NOW!

Presenting the "Silver Age" Mad-Dog on Monday at

Hero Histories!

And presenting the "Dark Age" Mad-Dog on Monday right here at

Atomic Kommie Comics!

Miss them at your peril!

See Psychedelic Sharks & The FIRST Aquatic Super-Hero...THE SHARK!

Before Shark Week Begins,

You gotta see this to believe it!

(If only these had been done as black-lite posters!)

Read the whole tale, based on the TV series Adventures in Paradise, at our "brother" RetroBlog, Secret Sanctum of Captain Video, HERE, HERE, and HERE!
Plus...
Before Aquaman!

Before Prince Namor; the Sub-Mariner!

There Was...

The son of Neptune (who may or may not be the Roman god), The Shark once lived in an undersea kingdom, but set out to fight all crime committed at sea by anyone; human, sea-dweller, or extraterrestrial alien!

He's called "Shark" because sharks often accompany him...and eat his enemies!
The character is also a skilled scientist, who creates and uses technology far beyond then-current human science! 

• His super-powers include...
• The ability to breathe underwater
• Superhuman strength and near-invulnerability (which he loses on land unless he's in physical contact with a magic knife given him by his father)
• Mental control of sea life!
• Ability to create creatures made of water, which he can direct mentally!
  

With a strip appearing in both Amazing-Man Comics and Stars and Stripes Comics, The Shark lasted until Centaur Publishing (which also published pulp magazines) gave up comics. 

You can read six of his tales (including his premiere) at another of our "brother" RetroBlogs, Hero Histories, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE!

Reading Room D-DAY with BLACKHAWK, SGT FURY, and SGT ROCK!

It was damned crowded 80 years ago today at Normandy Beach!

Blackhawk and his team were there, battling (what else?) giant Nazi war machines and revealing their secret origin!

Sgt Fury and His Howling Commandos were there (although the cover was a "cheat", since they swam in using SCUBA gear a couple of nights before, knocked out Nazi defenses and communications, then proceeded to the invasion site from inside France)!

And Sgt Rock was there, leading Easy Company into the thick of it!

Click on the links and enjoy!

Monday Monster Madness DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN, and "WEREWOLF"...as SUPERHEROES???

we warned you...

Our "brother" RetroBlog, Hero Histories, has the complete runs of the swinging Sixties superhero incarnations of Frankenstein, Dracula, and WolfMan, (which was retitled "Werewolf" due to trademark conflicts).

Did you know writer/editor DJ Arneson and artist Tony Tallarico put Universal Monster SuperHero Universe references within the three series?
Was a crossover team-up or battle planned...but not published?

If that doesn't scare your pants off, nothing will!

Click on the links...
Frankenstein
Dracula
WereWolf
It's Up to You to Decide if this is our Treat to you...or a Trick!!!

Read THE SHADOW: DESTINATION MOON

The never-reprinted, final Maxwell Grant Shadow novel from 1967,

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Please Support Atomic Kommie Comics

Visit Amazon and Buy...

The Shadow: Destination Moon

by

Maxwell Grant

(Dennis Lynds)
Out of print for over a half-century!

It's the FINAL COUNTDOWN...

...as The Master of Darkness faces off against CYPHER in final combat...

..in the final, never-reprinted "Maxwell Grant" novel!
Start the week with Chapter 13 on Monday at...

HERO HISTORIES

...then follow the links at the end of each chapter!

You're ENJOYING The Shadow: Destination Moon SO Much...

...that we're increasing the re-presentation of this never-reprinted final "Maxwell Grant" novel...

 ...from three entries per week to six, with two posts each on Hero Histories, Atomic Kommie Comics, and Crime and Punishment during the two remaining weeks before Labor Day!

Start the week on Monday with Chapter 7 at...

HERO HISTORIES

...then follow the links at the end of each chapter!

Monday Madness RIOT "The Shadower"

"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?"

Not this guy...

...as demonstrated in this never-reprinted tale from Atlas Comics' MAD clone, Riot #1 (1954)!

Though the writer of this satire of The Shadow radio show is unknown, odds are it was Stan Lee, who was writing almost everything at this point.

The illustrator is extremely well-known...Gene Colan!

This was not the first time The Shadow had been spoofed, since EC's MAD ran their own take on the character in #4 (1953) as shown HERE.

(It was even the cover feature!)

You'll note in this tale "The Shadower" doesn't have the usual cloak, slouch hat, and aquiline nose we associate with the character...

Art by Frank Robbins

In fact, he looks a lot like the Archie Comics version from a decade later...1964...

Art by John Rosenberger

...who, at least initially, was primarily-based on the radio show, but updated to the spy-oriented Sixties!

BTW, if you want more The Shadow stuff, have a look at our current Summer RetroBlog Blogathon participants...

CRIME & PUNISHMENT

...where we're re-presenting the Dark Avenger's never-reprinted 1970s-created, but 1940s-set adventures featuring art by Frank Robbins and E R Cruz.

AND

HERO HISTORIES

...where we began the re-presentation of the never-reprinted, final "Maxwell Grant" Shadow novel from the Swinging Sixties!

What is the Startling, Sinister Secret of THE SHADOW: DESTINATION MOON?

Only You Know Who Knows!

Here's a tantalizing taste of what's to come...

Begin the never-reprinted Swinging (and spy-filled) Sixties Adventure...

TODAY

at

HERO HISTORIES!

And
Witness the final, never-reprinted chapter of The Shadow's 1970s adventures by Golden/Silver/Bronze Age great Frank Robbins on Monday at...

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT!
Plus:

Also on Monday, a never-reprinted tale of

BRUCE LEE

...in a world where he lived to the present-day, at...

POP ART MARTIAL ARTS!

Now is this a Summer Blogathon, or what???